Japan Three Island Motorcycle Tour

Highlights for this motorcyle tour

• Cherry Blossoms
• Japanese Hot Springs (Onsen)
• Japanese Cuisine
• Honshu
• Kyushu
• Shikoku
• Okayama Korakuen Garden
• Mt. Aso National Park
• Iwashita Motorcycle Collection
• Ancient Temples
• Steaming Volcanoes
• Spectacular paved riding

Japan Three Island Motorcycle Tour Itinerary

*Meals Included in package: (D) = Dinner (B) = Breakfast

Saturday, March 27th:

Arrival in Okayama, Japan

Welcome to Japan! Most will be arriving late, so we'll hold the welcome dinner on the next night. All accommodations are included in the tour price. (D)

Sunday, March 28th:

Tour of Okayama, transfer to Tsuyama

There are lots of things to see and do in Okayama while you may be catching up on jet lag. Visit the famous and historic Black Castle of Okayama and walk around town. Other sights include the Korakuen Garden (one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens) and the Okayama Oriental Museum. We will transfer to the small town of Tsuyama, 2 hours by car. Welcome Dinner this evening. Stay in Tsuyama. (B/D)

Monday, March 29th:

Tsuyama to Arifuku Hotsprings - 150 miles

The riding starts today! We'll be taking a one-hour bus out of town to the rental location to pick up the bikes. Then, we'll ride north through the Japanese Alps and along the coast of the Sea of Japan to our evening resting place: a 600-year old, completely natural historic hot springs resort, tucked away in the countryside and known for its healing properties. Stay at Arifuku. (B/D)

Tuesday, March 30th:

Arifuku Hot Springs to Chinsui Hot Springs - 125 miles

Experience riding you never thought existed in Japan. Today, we’ll travel south through the backroads of Honshu Island and ride past stunning vistas along the Sea of Japan. Half of today’s riding is along the coast of the Sea of Japan, and the other half is through the mountainous interior. We’ll be staying at a hot springs resort town in the mountains as cherry blossoms float in the air and koi fish swim in a stream below your window. Stay at Chinsui. (B/D)

Wednesday, March 31st:

Chinsui Hot Springs to Yufuin - 210 miles

Fairly long day of riding on this day. We’ll ride some fantastic roads, see many temples and old farm houses. We’ll be riding the roads of the “real” Japan – the Japan most foreigners never see. We’ll ‘Ride the Dragon’ – a long stretch of road with hundreds of twisties. It’s a blast! We’ll ride south to the island of Kyushu, the most Southerly and Westerly of Japan’s four main islands. Kyushu is known for its friendly, festive locals and is considered to be the birthplace of Japanese civilization. Today, we’ll make a side-trip to the Iwashita Museum – an amazing collection of hundreds of motorcycles from around the world (including the 1600cc Amazonus!) Stay in Yufuin. (B/D)

Thursday, April 1st:

Yufuin to Saiki - 130 miles

Another day of world-class riding. Explore volcanoes, backroads and small towns of Kyushu. Ride around the rim of one of the largest calderas in the world at Aso-kuju National Park. This mountainous area has many volcanoes and one of the world’s largest caldera basin, with a circumference of about 55 miles. The Aso area also has a magnificent view of Aso Gogaku Five Mountains, including meadows and the active volcano, Mt. Naka-Dake. We’ll head for the coast and stay right on the ocean with a forest canopy as a backdrop. Stay near Saiki. (B/D)

Friday, April 2nd:

Saiki to Shikoku Island and Misaki Pennisula - 105 miles

Then we’ll take a ferry from Kyushu Island to Shikoku Island. This afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the roads at the tip of the Misaki Peninsula...fascinating and fun! We’ll feast on seafood in a little fishing town on the Misaki Peninsula this evening. Food is literally carried straight from boats to the kitchen to your table. It doesn’t get any fresher than this! Stay on Misaki Peninsula. (B/D)

Saturday, April 3rd:

Misaki to Kazurabashi - 180 miles

We’ll ride across the island of Shikoku to the Kuzaribashi area where we’ll ride through more than 60 tunnels before lunch. This is by far the best day of riding. Twisties, mountains, tunnels, LOTS to see! Stay near Kazuribashi. (B/D)

Sunday, April 4th:

Kazuribashi to Tsuyama - 100 miles

We’ll ride back to Okayama on the island of Honshu and turn in our bikes after crossing some of the largest suspension bridges in the world. Our farewell dinner will be in Okayama, where we’ll picnic near an idyllic lake surrounded with blossoming cherry trees in full bloom. Transfer to Okayama. Stay in Okayama. (B/D)

Monday, April 5th:

Flight Home from Okayama, Japan.(B)

*Optional activity: Visit Hiroshima for the day from Okayama. Phil will be happy to escort you there! This activity is not included in the tour package.

Information

To Book this Tour:

To secure a spot for our Japan Three Island Tour please register and send in $1,000 deposit.

Visa:

Visas are not needed for U.S., Canadian, or U.K. citizens for up to three months stay.

Passport:

You must have a valid Passport that does not expire for six month from the date of entry into Japan.

Travel:

The easiest way to get to Okayama is by flying to Incheon, Korea, and taking the Korean Air  once-daily evening flight from Incheon, Korea to Okayama, Japan. We will be there to welcome you at the airport.

For any other travel options, please contact us at: 1-800-756-1990 for advice. You may also reach our travel agent Sally at: Sally@alaskatravelsource.com, or (907) 562- 2213 
Just Tell her you are part of MotoQuests’ Japan group!

*Send us your Travel Information so I know when and where to meet you!!

Reading:

Lonely Planet Japan

Money:

Japanese Yen

Japan is a CASH-OVER-COUNTER society.  DO NOT rely on credit cards and US $ to get you by. Change money before you arrive in Japan! Do not plan to exchange US$ for Japanese Yen after you arrive at the airport!

*Change your cash to Japanese Yen!

-before you come to Japan at your nearest bank that does currency exchange.
-in the airport where you depart, in transit, or on arrival. (Make sure your cash is free on any marks. These will not be accepted for exchange.)

Optional Kitty:

$300 Non-Drinker
$500 Drinkers

Riders will be asked to put money into a kitty before and during the tour, to be used by the group as a whole for gas and other group-oriented activites not indicated as included in the tour package such as lunches, dinners, park entry fees, toll road fees, tips, water stops, etc. Guides and other staff also contribute to this kitty. This kitty account will be administered by the lead guide. During the tour, should the kitty "run dry" there will be another kitty collection. If there is a surplus in the kitty at the end of the tour, the kitty will be redestributed back to the tour participants.  You may pay the kitty by Visa, Mastercard, Cash or Personal Check. The lead guide will collect this prior to your tour start date. We have found this system to facilitate group riding during our tours.

Hot Spring Etiquette:

Learn the art of bath taking. Many of the Hotels we are staying do not have a shower in the rooms! We will make sure that you are familiar with the way to bathe in the common baths of our hotels!

Things to Bring:

• Drivers’ License with Motorcycle Endorsement from your country.
• One Weeks worth of Clothing. Pack Light!! During the evenings, all guest will be given an evening robe (Yukata) for strolling around the Hotel that can be worn for dinner. Because of this, you will not need to pack clothes for every evening…just double up on underwear.

Gear:

Bring riding gear that is warm and waterproof (a riding suit with pads is best). We recommend Scorpion XDR Commander riding gear. Also bring: Stout water-proof boots, rain gear, a warm hat, rain-proof gloves (2 pair), hiking shoes, bug spray,  lots of underwear,  fleece layers, full-faced helmet, swim suit (if there are hot springs), and a good camera are the things you need on the trail.